PollinERA in the spotlight at Open DiSTAL at the University of Bologna

How can we protect pollinators through better risk assessment of pesticides, while supporting more sustainable agri-food systems? This question was raised at Open DiSTAL, the University of Bologna’s Department of Agri-Food Science and Technology annual event, where students and stakeholders can get a closer look into the department’s research activities.

On 16 September, project partner Prof. Fabio Sgolastra introduced the university’s work on environmental risk assessment for pollinators, highlighting PollinERA. The project was featured in the panel ‘Pollinator management and multifunctional beekeeping in new agri-food systems’, which explored the many connections between pollinator protection, beekeeping and sustainable food production. Other key topics included multifunctional beekeeping enterprises; pollinators and agri-food supply chains: a strategic alliance for local health and produce quality; and beekeeping in the bio-district.

By dedicating time to these topics, Open DiSTAL gave students and stakeholders a valuable opportunity to see the importance of pollinators in agri-food systems and learn about research that can inform their protection.

The University of Bologna is actively involved in Work Package 2: Predictive Ecotoxicology, specifically in developing in silico toxicity models for pollinators and cumulative assessment groups for environmental risk assessment (ERA). Watch the video below, where Fabio Sgolastra offers a clear introduction to the concept and highlights the gaps in ecotoxicology that PollinERA aims to cover: